Barcelona Has Finally Had Enough of Segways
In recent years, hordes of Segways have snaked their way along Barcelona’s waterfront, allowing tourists the pleasant experience of walking along the quay while avoiding the apparently unpleasant experience of, well, walking along the quay. No more, says the city. The Segway tours are clogging the sidewalks and getting in people’s way in an area where local residents’ patience is already hanging by a thread. Both Segways and bicycle taxis found circulating on the promenade between the Hotel Vela and the Olympic Port will soon face a $100 fine, rising to up to $1,114 for repeat offenders. This week, Barcelona announced it’s going to forbid Segways from entering a key section of the city center. The measure comes as Barcelona is in the midst of tightening up just about every bylaw it can to lessen the negative effects that tourism has had on the city. Among the most recent clampdowns, the city is restricting the use of vacation apartments, bar crawls and kicking back against street noise.

US Releases List Of Airlines For Flights To Havana
The Obama administration has proposed eight airlines to start nonstop flights from the United States to Havana: United, Delta, American, Southwest, Alaska Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines. The round-trip flights would depart from a handful of US cities that include large Cuban-American populations and serve as connection points or hubs within the United States. They include Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York City, Orlando and Tampa. Though a travel ban and trade embargo on Cuba still exist, the Obama administration has chipped away at the restrictions while pressuring Congress to lift the embargo completely. Travel by Americans to Cuba has increased by 77 percent within the last year, a US official said. That demand was reflected in the proposals by the airlines to fill the 20 daily flights allowed between Havana and US cities by the two governments. BUT as usual due note the there are still heavy travel restrictions when visiting Cuba—call Willamette Intl Travel for details. 503-224-0180 or email info@wittravel.com.

New Montreal Cruise Terminal Set For May 2017 Debut

The new cruise terminal under construction in Montreal will open next May, according to the Port of Montreal. There is a temporary terminal set up for this season The port bought a big tent which will then become the secondary terminal. Thus, due to demand and potential congestion, the port will have two terminals starting in 2017, with the state-of-the-art new facility set to operate alongside the temporary-turned-permanent second terminal. Among the new highlights of the $78 million facility will be more streamlined operations. Everything will be in the ground level with a direct connection for grey water and shore power. The build is happening with the thought of a 365-day operational profile in mind, with the terminal serving as an event space on non-cruise days. The port is looking to generate revenue from the terminal year-round.

Queen Elizabeth’s Wardrobe On View At Buckingham Palace
An unprecedented peek into Queen Elizabeth II’s royal wardrobe will take place this summer at Buckingham Palace. As part of the monarch’s 90th birthday celebrations, the Royal Collection Trust announced on Monday that visitors will be treated to a special exhibition of the queen’s outfits, entitled: Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from The Queen’s Wardrobe. The exhibition will feature a wide range of clothes from the queen’s childhood to the present day, including ball gowns and military regalia. It will also include the outfit designed by Angela Kelly and worn by the queen for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. A total of around 150 outfits will be shown, with similar displays taking place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse and at Windsor Castle.

A NewKind Of Suitcase: Bluesmart One
Suitcase technology has just booted your luggage into the 21st century. The Bluesmart One suitcase has global GPS tracking thanks to a built-in SIM card, a battery charger for your devices, can tell you how heavy it currently is and auto-locks itself if it ever leaves your side. It’s also a magnificent travel case without all the techno-gubbins, ultra-sturdy with a reinforced laptop compartment. Now when an airline sends your luggage the wrong way around the world, you’ll at least know which city it’s ended up in. $449, bluesmart.com

Holland America Wins “Seafarer of the Year” Award For Veendam Rescue
At the 2016 Lloyd’s List North American Maritime Awards, the captain and crew of Holland America Line’s Veendam were named “Seafarer of the Year” for the rescue of a pilot who ejected from his aircraft in the Pacific Ocean. The “Seafarer of the Year” award recognizes the skills, bravery and professionalism that seafarers demonstrate daily, Holland America said. On January 25, 2015, Veendam rescued a pilot 225 miles off the coast of Maui, who had to ditch his single-engine aircraft after running out of fuel. The plane had a parachute system and the pilot was able to safely escape into a life raft, where he was retrieved by Veendam. Also in 2015, Zuiderdam rescued eight crewmembers from a sinking vessel in the Caribbean, while Zaandam came to the aid of seven stranded crewmembers at the Arctowski Polish research station at King George Island in Antarctica.